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Heinkel He 162

Ernst Heinkel · Jet Fighter · Germany · WWII (1939–1945)

Heinkel He 162 — Jet Fighter
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The Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger ("People's Fighter"; also known as the Salamander or Spatz "Sparrow") was a German single-seat single-jet fighter — the most-hastily-developed jet aircraft of WWII. Heinkel airframeed the He 162 in only 90 days between September and December 1944 to meet the Reich Air Ministry's Volksjäger emergency-fighter requirement; the prototype first flew on 6 December 1944. About 320 He 162s were built between February and May 1945 at underground factories (Mittelwerk and others). The aircraft entered Luftwaffe service in early April 1945 — only about 30 days before V-E Day.

The He 162 used a single BMW 003E-1 turbojet engine (1,800 lbf, similar to Junkers Jumo 004 but smaller) mounted on top of the fuselage. Maximum speed 905 km/h, range 970 km, service ceiling 12,000 m. Armament: 2 × 20 mm MK 108 cannons (some variants with 2 × 30 mm MK 108). The aircraft was specifically designed for cheap mass-production using non-long-range materials (plywood + steel + minimum aluminium) by semi-skilled labour — Heinkel sought to deploy 1,000 He 162s per month by mid-1945.

He 162 service was nominal. The aircraft entered Luftwaffe service in early April 1945 with Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1) at Leck airfield. JG 1 conducted training operations rather than combat sorties — the Volksjäger pilots (mostly inexperienced Hitler Youth volunteers) needed conversion training before frontline use. About 5 He 162s were lost to non-combat accidents during this period; 1 was probably lost to a Hawker Tempest in combat (disputed). The war ended on 8 May 1945 before large combat use. About 9 He 162 airframes survive in 2026 at museums in the UK, USA, Canada, France, Germany, and Sweden — making it one of the better-preserved jet fighters of WWII.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Heinkel He 162 Volksjager (People's Fighter) was a German emergency jet fighter from the end of World War II. It was designed and built in only 90 days, very fast for a complex jet. The He 162 first flew on December 6, 1944. About 320 He 162s were built between February and May 1945. It entered Luftwaffe service in early April 1945, only 30 days before the war ended.

The He 162 is 30 feet long with a 23-foot wingspan, smaller than a school bus. One BMW 003 jet engine sits on top of the body, making 1,800 pounds of thrust. Top speed is 562 mph, faster than most race cars. The plane has two 20mm cannons in the nose.

The He 162 was made to be cheap and quick to produce. The body uses plywood, steel, and a little aluminum, since German aluminum was running out. Semi-skilled workers in underground factories could build the He 162 quickly. Germany hoped to build 1,000 He 162s per month by mid-1945.

Few He 162s saw real combat before the war ended on May 8, 1945. The He 162 also had bad handling and could be tricky to fly. Several test pilots were lost flying the He 162. After the war, captured He 162s were tested by the Allies. The German emergency jet program was too late to change the war.

Fun Facts

  • The He 162 Volksjager was designed and built in only 90 days.
  • About 320 He 162s were built between February and May 1945.
  • The He 162 is 30 feet long, smaller than a school bus.
  • Top speed is 562 mph, faster than most race cars.
  • The jet engine sits on top of the body, not under the wings.
  • Volksjager means People's Fighter in German.
  • He 162s entered service only 30 days before WWII ended.

Kids’ Questions

Why 90 days?

By late 1944, Germany was losing the war and Allied bombers were destroying German cities. The German Air Ministry called for an emergency jet fighter to stop the bombers. Heinkel designed and built the He 162 in just 90 days, an incredible speed for any plane. The first He 162 flew only 90 days after Heinkel got the contract.

Why wood and steel?

By late 1944, Germany was running out of aluminum, the normal metal for plane bodies. Heinkel designed the He 162 around plywood and steel, materials Germany still had. The plywood bonded to steel allowed quick build by semi-skilled workers in underground factories. The trade-off was the wood-glue bonding sometimes failed in flight.

Why so dangerous?

The He 162 was rushed into production with little testing. The engine on top of the body made the plane hard to handle. The wood-glue bonding could come apart in flight, especially in tight turns. Engines often quit due to fuel and oil leaks. Even trained pilots struggled with the He 162. Young pilots fresh from gliders died in many accidents.

Variants

He 162A-1 (basic Volksjäger)
Standard production with 2 × MK 108 30 mm cannons. About 150 built.
He 162A-2 (lighter armament)
Variant with 2 × MG 151/20 20 mm cannons (lighter recoil for plywood airframe). About 170 built.

Notable Operators

Luftwaffe Jagdgeschwader 1 (April-May 1945)
Sole user. Training operations from Leck airfield. No confirmed combat kills before V-E Day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How was the He 162 designed in 90 days?

By radical simplification + parallel design. The Reich Air Ministry issued the Volksjäger requirement on 8 September 1944; Heinkel's design team (about 130 people) worked round-the-clock with a deliberately simplified design specification (1 engine, 1 pilot, 1 weapon load, no complex systems). The first prototype flew on 6 December 1944 — 90 days after specification issue. The compressed schedule resulted in in-service reliability problems: the He 162 had a high accident rate during its short service life.

Why was the He 162 made of plywood?

Long-range-material scarcity. By late 1944 German aluminium supplies were severely constrained by Allied bombing of bauxite-processing facilities and oil-refining infrastructure. Plywood was abundant and could be processed by semi-skilled labour with simple tools. The Volksjäger requirement specifically mandated plywood + steel + minimum aluminium construction so the type could be mass-produced by displaced civilian workforce in underground factories.

Did the He 162 see combat?

Minimal. The aircraft entered Luftwaffe service in early April 1945 with JG 1 at Leck airfield. Only training operations were conducted before V-E Day on 8 May 1945. One He 162 may have been lost to a Hawker Tempest in combat on 4 May 1945 (disputed). No confirmed He 162 combat kills against Allied aircraft.

How many He 162s survive?

About 9 airframes worldwide. Significant preserved examples at: RAF Museum London, Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum Washington DC, Imperial War Museum Duxford, Canada Aviation and Space Museum Ottawa, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace Paris-Le Bourget, Deutsches Museum Munich, Technikmuseum Berlin, Australian War Memorial Canberra. Several were captured intact by Allied forces at Leck airfield in May 1945.

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